THIS is a SHOW!

Who knows how to do this in Toronto?

ART PARTY

 Don't want to miss this one... 

STELLAR LIVING 2011 

CONTEMPORARY ART & DESIGN AUCTION

Mercer Union’s Stellar Living 2011 is the premiere contemporary art and design benefit auction in Canada. With the event only two weeks away, now is the time to purchase tickets to take part in the live auction on Thursday 12 May. Proceeds will directly support the innovative programming vision of Mercer Union, Toronto’s leading artist-run centre dedicated to cutting-edge Canadian and international visual art practices.

The sale features an unrivalled selection of lots, on view at www.mercerunion.org/stellar

Opening Reception Thursday 5 May | 7PM onward | Free
With DJs Pam Hong & Diana McNally

Preview Exhibition 3 – 12 May | Tuesday to Saturday, 11AM to 6PM | Free
Gala Auction Thursday 12 May | Doors open at 6PM | Tickets $75
Entry includes complimentary bar and hors d’oeuvres

MERCER UNION a centre for contemporary art
1286 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario M6H 1N9

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS & DESIGNERS

 Stephen Andrews, John Armstrong & Paul Collins, Melanie Authier, Lynn Bishop, Adam David Brown, James Carl, David Chang, Commute, Patrick Cull, Brothers Dressler, Dave Dyment, Jessica Eaton, FELT, Brendan Fernandes, Robert Fones, Barr Gilmore, Eric Glavin, Martin Golland, Hadley+Maxwell, Marla Hlady, Kristan Horton, Patrick Howlett, Spring Hurlbut, Marie Jager, Kelly Jazvac, Laura Kikauka, Kristiina Lahde, Micah Lexier, Gareth Lichty, Corwyn Lund, Patrick Lundeen, MADE, Dylan McKinnon, Aleksandra Mir, Jennifer Murphy, John Noestheden, Roula Partheniou, The Practice of Everyday Design, Kerri Reid, Amy Robinson, Will Rogan, Jade Rude, Jennifer Rose Sciarrino, Derek Sullivan, Joanne Tod, Ehryn Torrell, Flavio Trevisan, Rhonda Weppler & Trevor Mahovsky, and Etienne Zack.

I WANT (and will make if I cannot find)...

 

In Praise of Slowness

The Slow Fashion Movement has finally gained its "cool" these days, and I'm hoping that people consider embracing its philosophy and principles as easily as they spend a few hundred dollars at a restaurant of the same school of thought.

Myself as a designer, I guess I've always been in praise of Slow. 
My line is about quality, not quantity, about the woman who invests in a piece of clothing with my label knowing that it has been made well, with care, given the proper attention to detail, and a beautiful piece that will stay in her collection for years to come. 

A bonus of being a part of the Slow Movement is that I've been lucky enough to get to know many of the women who have invested in my love, my line.

May I propose the next time you're in the mood for something special... take it slow.

Post Show Interview

A video interview from last night's aaah-mazing show at Palais Royale just minutes after the show ended.  It begins with the first designer of Andy Hall and then progresses into my interview with Spiro Georges Mandylor of It's All Style To Me.  In this video I am wearing one of the pieces that was on the runway.  It's a one shoulder maxi dress, blue with white dots, with a brown leather and gold buckle side detail at the hip.  Both the men and ladies seemed to love that dress last night. 

 

More of the interview can be found on his site.  I am hoping to share photos soon... 

 

video credit to It's All Style To Me

I think both my man and I would love if I was this tidy and organized... not lately anyways!

Something to aim for...

jitterballs and loss of sleep

Less than one week till my second show (ever), and this is me

And what have I learned from the first that I can bring into this show?

#1 Don't let any models leave your site before the show, especially to have a quick drink at the bar!
#2 Always have my wing-woman with me.  Lucky for me, she's back from Scotland for a few weeks and will be by my side throughout the panic, chaos, and doubts.
#3 Don't worry about the little things... people don't notice!
#4 Do what I like, don't take orders from others.  It isn't my show "technically", but it is a reflection of me, so make sure I don't do anything I am not comfortable with.

Still though, I worry about people excited for the show.  Why? 

It's like they say it's better for people to not expect much and be pleasantly surprised over expectations high and them not met.  I'm not sure if the ladies will dig what I'm feeling these days, and I do hope they go along for this ever-evolving journey with me... but what if they don't? 

Can you lose clientele based on one show?  I worry about these things.

p.s. On a completely different note, sometimes i feel like an old soul, and find my style reflects this. Another is perhaps my love for and always calming feeling when I listen to music like this... makes me relax, reflect, and close my eyes for a few minutes.  My man played the entire soundtrack on the weekend, and while I was in the middle of chaos, I couldn't help but stop everything, shut off the sewing machines and take it in. 

It must be played so loud that everything else disappears for that moment.

SHOW SHOW SHOW!